Improvement in processes for manufacturing gas



UNITE STATES PATENT CFFIGE.

JOHN ALFRED STEPHAN, OF.WORCES TER, ENGLAND.

lMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES FOR MANUFACTURING GAS,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,304, dated October22, 1878; application filed March 23, 1878; patented in England,November 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALFRED STE- PHAN, of Worcester, in the countyof Worcester and Kingdom of England, have invented a new and usefulProcess for the Manufacture of Garbureted-Hydrogen Gas, which process isfully set forth in the following specification.

The invention relates to an improved process of manufacturing gas forheating and illuminating purposes from sewage.

It consists in vaporizing the sewage in a suitable boiler, subjectingthe steam to the action of highly-heated metallic plates, by which it isdecomposed and the hydrogen liberated,

subjecting the resultant gas to the action of highly-heated carbonate oflime or limestone, which is thereby decomposed, giving off its carbonicacid, and finally subjecting the mixed gases to the action of highlyheated substances containing or saturated with hydrocarbons, by whichmeans olefiant gas is produced, which is partially decomposed by thecarbonic acid, forming carbonic-oxide gas, increasing the volume of theinflammable gas, and imparting to the mixed gas the proper amount ofcarbon to bring the same up to the proper illuminating standard.

In carrying out my invention the sewage is placed in a suitable boilerconnected with one end of a retort, the two being located in a fur nace,by means of which they may be simultaneously heated.

The retort at the end connected with the boiler is fitted with ahoneycombed chamber formed of a mass of closely-packed metal orperforated metallic disks or tubes, of iron or steel, the centralportion of said retort being packed with any suitable earthy carbonate,such as limestone, for instance, which is preferably secured in a wirecage to facilitate its insertion and removal. The other end of saidretort is packed with a substance rich. in hydrocarbon, which mayconsist of bones, chalk saturated with petroleum, coal, coal'dust,sawdust, creosote, or the solid matter left in the boiler after thewater has been evaporated from the sewage.

The steam, on passing through the retort, is decomposed by the heatedmetallic surfaces, the oxygen combining with the same and forming anoxide, while the hydrogen is liberated and passes on through the heatedlimestone. The carbonic acid given off by the limestone commingles withthe hydrogen gas, and passes with it through the incandescent mass ofcarbonaceous material, combining with the olefiant gas, being generatedby heat from said carbonaceous material, forming an illuminating-gas.The said olefiant gas is partially decomposed by the carbonic-acid gasuniting with one equivalent of carbon of said olefiant gas, formingcarbonic oxide-an inflammable gas which increases the volume of themixed inflammable gases, while the undecomposed olefiant gas serves toimpart the proper amount of carbon to said inflammable gases to bringthe same up to the proper illuminating standard.

The rear end of the retort is provided with an exit-pipe leading to acondenser, which is connected with a gas-holder, in which the gas isstored for use.

The residuals from the retort include sodaash and lime, which may beused for commercial purposes, while in the condenser the residualsinclude an abundant supply of ammoniacal liquor, tar, and alubricating-grease, besides other products.

What I claim is- The process herein described for producing illuminatinggas, the same consisting in vaporizing the sewage, decomposing thesteam thereof by hot metallic surfaces, charging the resulting hydrogengas with carbonic-acid gas.

by passing it through heated carbonates, and. finally converting thecarbonic acid into carbonic oxide, and at the same time enriching thegas by passing the same through heated hydrocarbons, substantially asset forth.

JQHN ALFRED STEPHAN. Witnesses EDWARD J. PAYNE, HENRY T. TALBOT.

